The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-04-22

own aTbiSbIc merit III one set out to -
a sculptor the only effectual meth65 &
achieving a command of the art i q
begin working on the round, leavino
the study of relief to follow A.
sequence, and which VII be mere nl.v
in comparison; but rel eff work Is not 4
be desp;sed on that account. From
high relief to the modelling Of sman
statues the way is not difficult, and
charming little ornaments in this Ina
are often turned out from the hands II
the tyro. 1t follows that tyros who are
capable of producing pleasing objects
have an eye for proportion not possess.
ed by all. In this talent rests the main
secret of success or failure, alShou0b
much may be done by measurement and
calculation. Indeed the most accom-.
plishod sculptor relies upon these
methods of reproducing the model, but
10 amount of measurement and calcu.
lation cal produce the exquisite quail.
ties of light and shade found in fine
sculpture. That is art.
1t may be that after the amateur
shall have modelled q fair bit in relief
he will wish to reproduce it in plaster.
This is a simple matter. We will sup
pose that the subject is a panel or 1
medallion. Build a wall of beeswax
two or three inches high about its out
er edge, or it may be fitted into 4
frame of paseboard of the exact size.
and give the model a thorough oilinp
with a brush dipped in boiled linseed,
oil. They mix plaster of paris with
water to the consistency of thick
cream, beating it free from Jumps, and
pour it upon the model until it shall be
of the required thickness. Let It stand
for ten minutes or so, when it will be-
hardened sufficiently TO be separated
from the clay, which may be done with
a dull knife, first scraping the edge I'm.
til the dividing line may be seen. In
twenty-four hours the cast will be quite
hard, and may be used in turn as 4
mold in which 10 produce a fac similc
of the original, which is a repetition
of the process just described. ii the
plaster has been mixed with milk and
water, or if it DO brushed over with a
mixture of oil and wax, the surface
will when dry take a good polish, and
will after awhile acquire the appear
ance of old ivory. Another method is
to keep the cast in an oven Of about 500
degrees for forty-eight hours, and then
to steep it in olive oil. Afterward inn
merse il in warm water and polish
with whiting. The plaster for casts
may be tinted any desired color by col
oring the water with which it is mixed
with soluble dyes. Gum arabic and
alum mixed with the water will make
the plaster as hard as the hardest wood,
so that it may be used in ornamenting
fnrnitnre GGeelatiae Is 9 used -
make a mold to receive the plaster east
and takes a finer impression than the
plaster, Being smoother aud softer.
Stiff -four paste or the papier-mache
used by stereotypers may also serve the
purpose. The latter is often used by
travellers to take impressions Of bas-
reliefs or inscriptions which are not
easy to copy in any other way.
But aside from making casts OF one
own work 1t may be desirable to copy
bronze or marble medalions or panels,
This may be done without injury 70
TO the,original by taking the impression
in any Of the materials mentioned
which serves as a mold into which 70
pour the plaster. A series Of plaster
panels over doors, or surrounding
mantels, or bordering fire-places Gas
tiles are Commonly used), will 40
much in the way Of decoration. and the
process is so easy, especially if bronze
or other models be used. and the ex,
pense so trifling that amateurs will iind
in the work rare satisfaction .-Rhae-
aeIphiG Record.